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This week’s article for Sleep Awareness Week is by the spokesperson for Christian Science in Nigeria, Moji Solanke – m_asolanke@hotmail.com – and first published in The Guardian.

In a more and more matter-centric world, as the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle and advances in robotics and cloning reveal, there is a subtle belief that less sleep will translate to success. Consequently, medical scientists are finding there is a high incidence of insomnia, cutting across all ages and occupations. Young university students under the unrelenting pressure of examinations and deadlines, complain about sleepless nights. Busy executives talk of sleeping with one eye open, in a bid to stay a few steps ahead of the competition while the other eye is constantly fixed on the bottom line. Even clerics may somewhat piously intone their ability to get by on four hours of sleep since they must stay awake to minister to the unending needs of their congregations and communities.Continue Reading

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“Scientists have made a powerful discovery that appears able to improve everyone’s life. Reports indicate it works on individuals, families, communities, economies, and nations. Interestingly, it appears that too little of this substance may explain the coarsening of language and the hardening of hearts so evident in politics and the media. Lack of it also might be responsible for everything from substance abuse to the anxiety many people say they feel despite the unprecedented security, better health, and affluence the world is experiencing.

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This week’s ANZAC Day commemorations highlight the best of human conduct – servicemen’s and servicewomen’s courage, mateship, decency and willingness to lay down their lives for country and mates on the battlefield.

At the same time though, and in a quieter way, ANZAC Days are proving occasions to mention those who suffer trauma as a consequence of being embroiled in the devastation and brutality that go hand-in-hand with war. It is estimated that upwards of 30% of all serving Australian defence force personnel experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The call continues by Professor Alexander McFarlane, the head of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at the University of Adelaide, for a national response to provide greater PTSD support.Continue Reading

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Today’s shift in thought concerning seniors’ capabilities was pre-empted by spiritual thinker, Mary Baker Eddy, who wrote more than a century ago about “the everlasting grandeur and immortality of development, power, and prestige” which are part of our spiritual being.

These days we hear of Australians in their 80s and older, who compete in major sports events. And many who are still working into their 70s, 80s and 90s, their occupations varying from cloakroom attendant to running a cancer research centre.

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Our social, theological and healthcare reformers stand on the shoulders of such “greats.” Why they should be celebrated during Australian Women’s History Month and for International Women’s Day.

I wept for Maud Watts’ plight. She was the central character in the 2015 film, Suffragette, which depicted the core group of women who fought to obtain the vote in 1912 London. A socio-political environment hostile to women’s suffrage led to a tragic set of circumstances where she was forced to give up everything she held dear. Her marriage, her son, her home, her job, her dignity and her health were stripped from her as she devoted herself to lobbying for a woman’s basic right to have a say about how things could be done better in her world.

The Commonwealth of Australia had already given women here that right a decade earlier. But progress was slow in the state governments, and it was not until 1926 that women were able to both vote and stand for all Houses of Parliament in all parts of the Commonwealth.

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What do “identity,” “sharing economy” and “face with tears of joy emoji” have in common?

Not a lot at first blush! But they’ve each been selected as the 2015 “Word of the Year” – by Dictionary.com, the Australian National Dictionary Centre, and the Oxford Dictionary respectively. The decisions were based on the prominence and frequency of usage of the terms throughout the year.